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Since kitchen appliances are always evolving, customers are often looking for multifunctional products and microwaves with a grill are among the most sought-after. That’s why we tested 15 different units to find out which is the best microwave with a grill.
Not surprisingly, Samsung takes one of the top spots with its MG11H2020CT, which has both the power and the capacity to fulfill a family’s needs, while the Cuisinart CMW-200 was a hidden jewel that we didn’t expect to be so efficient and powerful.
However, if you’re looking for the very best microwave with a grill, you absolutely need to check out which placed on the first spot. Wondering which one it is? Read below to find out!
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Editor’s Choice
|
Farberware FMO12AHTBSG
|
10
|
Check Current Price |
|
Most Versatile
|
Samsung MG11H2020CT
|
9.5
|
Check Current Price |
|
Best Value For Money
|
Impecca 3-in-1 CM-1295ST
|
9
|
Check Current Price |
|
Best Seller
|
Samsung MG11T5018CC
|
9
|
Check Current Price |
|
Budget Option
|
Cuisinart CMW-200
|
9
|
Check Current Price |
The Best Microwaves With Grill
Table of Contents
When you’re looking for a new microwave there are many specific terms thrown around like convection cooking, inverter, low wattage, dial controls, pizza oven, etc. and while some are pretty intuitive, others may sound foggy.
It’s important to know the difference between the various models in order to make an informed purchase, that’s why we thought it would be a good idea to explain in a simple and straightforward way the main characteristics of each microwave category:
- Microwave oven: the standard microwave that can cook, reheat and defrost;
- Microwave oven with grill: has all the standard functions, plus you can also grill your food;
- Microwave oven with convection: has all the functions of a grill microwave, but you can also bake, roast, and cook a larger variety of dishes;
- Microwave oven with inverter: it works with a different technology from standard microwaves, which provides an ongoing flux of energy that heats your food more evenly.
As you can see, you can have a convection microwave oven with a grill, but not all grill microwaves have convection technology. At the same time, you can have an inverter microwave with convection, but this is not always true for the opposite.
After careful research and an intense testing period, we compiled the following list that includes all the best microwaves with a grill currently on the market. Further below you will also find our tips on how to choose a microwave with a griller.
Farberware FMO12AHTBSG
- Compact
- Large capacity
- Easy to clean
- Great value for money
- A bit noisy
It was hard to pick the winner for this particular race, but we think that this Farberware is the overall best microwave with the grill feature among those we tested.
This microwave presents itself as small and compact, which surprisingly hides a large capacity oven of 1.2 cu. ft. It is by no means a lightweight microwave and with its 39.1 pounds, it won’t budge even if you pull the door with a little too much force.
The black stainless steel design of this model not only is quite elegant but makes it easy to spot stains right away and keep it clean. A lot of thought was put into the design of this microwave since the control panel is quite clear and well-organized as well.
Although the Farberware features Express Cook functions and a very useful Smart Sensor, the most interesting feature is by far the dual cooking functionality which combines the microwave oven and the grill.
This Farberware is quite rich in functions, in fact, it also comes with an Eco Mode, which is great to reduce power consumption when you’re not using the microwave, and a Child Lock feature to keep children safe from unsupervised use of the machine.
We had our fair share of fun trying out this microwave with different functions, and in all honesty, we’re not sure if it uses all the 1100 watts of power stated on the box. In fact, the cooking can be fairly slow for some foods, although when you open the door the plate is always smoking hot and steaming.
Of course, normal grilling is different from microwave grilling, so you cannot expect the same results, however, we believe that this little unit does its job pretty well, and at a very favorable price.
Samsung MG11H2020CT
- Compact
- Quick heating
- Easy to clean
- Poor user manual
Samsung produces trustworthy and durable machines with a special eye for quality and design, and the MG11H2020CT makes no exception.
This unit is quite small in comparison with the other microwaves with a grill we tested and weighs considerably less than most of them. For this reason, this is one of those countertop microwaves that is easy to move around, but depending on your specific setting it might also slide over the counter when force is used against it.
One thing we really liked about this model is the ceramic interior, which not only is aesthetically pleasing, but extremely easy to clean.
As with all microwaves with grilling options, part of the oven is occupied by the grilling element that can be bothersome to clean. However, the rest of the oven won’t really take much of an effort.
The grilling element and the glass turntable are a great combo in this microwave because the food can be cooked, heated, or grilled fairly evenly in comparison with other units in the same category.
The box states a power output of 1000 watts and after testing it with different foods, including pizza, pasta, and meat, we can confirm that the results are excellent.
We had a good experience with this Samsung grill microwave, however, we were surprised in finding the user manual so poorly written. It gives you the necessary information, however, it’s a generic instruction book that can be applied to any Samsung microwave, so it doesn’t go into details for specific functions of this model.
We recommend you look for the online manual that should be available on the Samsung website. If you purchase this model online, you might find the manual on the retailer page.
Impecca 3-in-1 CM-1295ST
- Large capacity
- Convection oven
- Weight Defrost
- A bit heavy
If you’re looking for a microwave oven with grill and convection, we’re positive you will be greatly satisfied with the Impecca CM-1295ST, in fact, this model has a quite convenient price for a microwave that carries out 3 different functions in 1 machine.
As a countertop microwave, we really cannot find any flaws in this unit. It makes full use of its 1000 watts of output and with its 8 pre-set menus cooking will never be easier.
You can check and set up your preferred program through the LED display on top of the control panel, which we’re happy to say, it’s really well-designed. It’s clear and easy to read thanks to the contrast between the lettering and the background. Each function has its own button, including the combos.
In fact, with the Impecca CM-1295ST you can choose between the sole function of microwave, grill, or convection, or you can use one of the two combos: microwave and convection or microwave and grill.
This convection microwave is the closer you can get to an actual oven. You can cook, grill, roast, and bake with this unit and its large interior (1.2 cu. ft.) is more than enough for all of your cooking needs.
Despite the large capacity, this isn’t a huge microwave. It’s not much bigger than the Samsung MG11H2020CT, which is the smallest microwave on this list, that’s why we recommend this microwave for small families or medium use.
The stainless steel design is quite elegant and catches the eye. Not only the control panel was smartly planned, but the whole unit looks carefully designed and is pleasant to the sight.
The Impecca CM-1295ST is quite heavy, so if you are planning to set it up on your own, we suggest you place the whole box directly on the counter and remove the packaging piece by piece from around it.
Samsung MG11T5018CC
- Easy to use
- Compact
- Sturdy door handle
- 37 cooking presets
- Door handle design & mechanism
Samsung snatches another place in our list with a model that can almost replace you in the kitchen. In fact, the MG11T5018CC is a microwave with many surprises, despite being neither an inverter nor a convection oven.
This model boasts 1000 watts of power, but it sure feels more powerful. During our testing period, we cooked basically everything with this microwave and there wasn’t a single food that came out uncooked or without a perfect crisp. It was especially pleasant to cook popcorns and pizza with this one, so it can be your go-to machine for movie nights.
The design of the Samsung MG11T5018CC is quite unique and beautiful. The front panel is made of glass, which gives it a shiny surface. We’re not sure if this can cause issues with the visibility of the control panel, as we kept it in a corner of the kitchen where it didn’t get a huge amount of sunlight.
The oven of this microwave, just like its brother MG11H2020CT, has a ceramic interior which gives it a classy look that resembles an actual oven and it makes it easier and quicker to clean.
We have to admit that the absence of “actual buttons” was a little unsettling at first, but we got used to it quickly, helped by the stunning minimal design of the glass panel.
On the panel, you will find only a few but fundamental functions, which we believe to be another strong point of this model. In fact, the Samsung MG11H2020CT fits somewhere in the middle between a technologically advanced model and older, but also less complicated microwave ovens.
For this reason, we believe it will make the happiness of those who look for a microwave with a grill that is simple to operate, but still modern and aesthetically pleasing.
As you may have noticed, we put “door handle” both in the Pro and Cons sections. It’s not a mistake. We are door handle lovers, as microwave release buttons are often the first thing that breaks down after long-term use.
However, we’re sad to admit that the design of the door handle wasn’t well-planned on this microwave. In fact, while the door opens on the left, the design of the handle forces you to use your right hand to open it. This way, you cannot open it and place the food inside at the same time.
On top of that, the opening mechanism is way too tough for the weight of the microwave, and as a result, we often dragged the microwave along while trying to open it.
We do believe this is a problem that can be easily solved by installing rubber pins under the microwave and it’s in no way a deal-breaker, but we felt like it was just right to mention it.
Cuisinart CMW-200
- Powerful
- Convection oven
- Large capacity
- Clear instruction manual
- Recipe book included
- Door mechanism
The Cuisinart CMW-200 could very well be the first on our list but the reason we didn’t place it at the top is that this is not just a grill microwave, and as such, it is also a little more expensive than the others.
However, no one can deny that this is a great machine. When you look at it, you may be reminded of the average commercial microwave because of the shiny exterior and interior.
Indeed, this unit can handle a lot of work and be very efficient in carrying it out, so it’s a good meeting point between the average home microwave and a commercial one.
Unless you have specific cooking needs, the Cuisinart CMW-200 can be your countertop microwave, griller, and also a good replacement for a traditional oven. It is truly a 3-in-1 microwave that can fulfill most of your cooking needs.
Despite having “only” 1000 watts of power, we have yet to find something this microwave cannot cook or heat to perfection. Of course, this isn’t an inverter microwave, so you can have a cold spot here and there at times, but in comparison with most microwaves, this unit heats food very evenly.
As a microwave oven with convection and grill, it features a grilling element inside and a fan that helps blow the hot air around. With this microwave, you can also bake and roast a large variety of different dishes.
The Cuisinart CMW-200 comes with a detailed and clear instruction manual, which is something we really appreciated. We recommend reading the manual carefully in order to enjoy the many functions of this microwave to the fullest.
On this unit you have a release button like in most of the countertop microwaves nowadays, however, we believe a door handle would have been a better choice for this model.
In fact, we had some difficulties opening the door by using the button, maybe due to the door latch being too tough or the spring not being sensible enough. It needs to be pushed quite strongly, with the risk of moving the microwave around in the meantime.
We also noticed that sometimes simply pressing the button isn’t enough to open the door, and you need to pull it at the same time. It’s a pity because this is otherwise a great product. However, we’re not sure if the door is a deal-breaker, given the high quality of this microwave.
How To Choose A Microwave With Grill
All the microwaves with grilling options you can find on the market work more or less in the same manner, so what is important is actually what other features and functions do they have that you may need.
Choosing a microwave is always a personal experience because you need to take into consideration your specific needs and those of your family, but when it comes to microwaves with a griller, we do have some advice for you that might make your choice easier.
Capacity
A microwave with a grill is mostly used for meat, pizza, and all those foods that would benefit from a good crisp finishing. Usually, this means cooking with large plates, as you cannot fit a pizza plate or a turkey in a small microwave.
That’s why we believe one of the most important characteristics of a grill microwave is its capacity. All the microwaves we listed above have a capacity of over 1.0 cu. ft. which is the minimum size we deem necessary for grilling.
For a family microwave, we always recommend choosing the bigger one when in doubt. And while a large capacity may seem useless when you’re living alone, this point is not applicable when it comes to a microwave oven with a grill, where a larger interior capacity will bring you more benefits.
Convection Cooking
If you’re looking for a microwave with a grill, why not go all the way and purchase a multifunctional microwave that can also bake and roast?
Grill microwaves are slightly more expensive than the basic countertop microwave oven, but the difference between a grill microwave and a convection microwave in terms of prices is often not that substantial. If you’re planning to make this expense, you may as well take your kitchen set-up to the next level.
A traditional oven can be quite expensive in terms of power consumption, especially if you still have an old model. In many cases, a convection microwave can replace your traditional oven quite optimally and it will also translate into energy saving.
While it’s not necessary for a grill microwave to also be a convection microwave, it will surely make your life easier and your cooking experience more swift and pleasant, so we recommend you look through your options carefully before making a purchase.
He likes to call himself a ‘tech freak’ and if you ask him anything about whatever tech-trend is on these days, he will likely go on for hours.
Apart from his passion for technology, Lucas has worked in an appliance store for many years and is also an over-enthusiastic foodie.
He considers his job at ConsciousEating a ‘dream come true’ because it allows him to explore the two things he loves the most in the world: technology and food.
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